This comes a day after US Defense Secretary James Mattis held discussions with PresidentAshraf Ghani during his trip to Kabul on Tuesday where they discussed the peace offer that has been made to the Taliban and the offer of comprehensive talks to Pakistan.

Now is the best time for the Taliban to negotiate for peace, the top United States general in Afghanistan said Wednesday, warning that an increased air and ground campaign against the insurgents would only get worse.

However, the Taliban appears likely to miss that conference and have ruled out direct talks with the Western-backed government in Kabul, which they say is an illegitimate, foreign-imposed regime.

Asked whether the United States would be willing to talk directly with the Taliban, Mattis reiterated the USA position that the talks should be led by Kabul.

The Taliban 's silence has provoked repeated calls for a direct response to Ghani's proposal made at an worldwide conference in Kabul on February 28. He offered his full support to the Afghan-led reconciliation process, White said, noting that it is aimed at achieving lasting peace in Afghanistan.

Casualties of the Afghan security forces have risen since the beginning of 2015 when Afghan soldiers and police assumed full responsibilities of security from the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation troops.

In the Gaza strip blew up the motorcade of Prime Minister
Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in a bloody military coup in June 2007, sending PA security forces fleeing for their lives. Hamdallah, the explosion was not injured and continued the visit, during which he opened a plant for the desalination of water.

Cardinals release Tyrann Mathieu after he declines pay cut
While Mathieu struggled to make plays early last season, he showed signs of returning to 2015 All-Pro form down the stretch. He due a $5 million roster bonus and another $13 million in guarantees on 2018 and 2019 salaries if he stayed on the team.

White Nationalist Leader Faces Battery Charges In Ind.
The incident happened at the Paoli property where Heimbach and other members of the Traditionalist Worker Party live. Likewise, with the arrest - and the affair - it appears the Traditionalist Worker Party may have collapsed entirely.

Tubby Smith dumped as coach at Memphis
On Wednesday, Memphis announced it was firing head coach Tubby Smith , ending his three-year run at the school. The Tigers reached the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference tournament before losing to Cincinnati.